Harness Buckle Recall - 2014 Announcement

Graco

Harness Buckle Recall - 2014 Announcement

As part of our continuous product testing and
improvement process, Graco identified that food and
dried liquids that can make some harness buckles
progressively more difficult to open over time or become
stuck in the latched position. Therefore, Graco has
decided to conduct a voluntary recall on the harness
buckles used on all toddler convertible car seats and
harnessed booster seats manufactured from 2009 to July
2013. Graco would like to stress this does not in any
way affect the performance of the car seat or the
effectiveness of the buckle to restrain the child. And a
car seat is always the safest way to transport your
child.

Solution
Graco offers a new and improved replacement harness
buckle to affected consumers at no cost. If you are
experiencing difficulty with your harness buckle and
cleaning has not improved its performance, please
contact our Graco customer service team at 800-345-4109
(Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.) or
consumerservices@gracobaby.com.

Cleaning Tips for Harness Buckles:

To clean your buckle, turn the restraint over
and push the retainer through the harness strap
slot. Place the buckle in a cup of warm water and
gently agitate the buckle, pressing the red button
several times while it is in the water.

Do not submerge the harness webbing and do not
use soaps or lubricants, only rinse the harness
buckle with warm water.

Shake out the excess water and allow the harness
buckle to air dry.

Reattach the harness buckle into the same slot
and re-check harness for correct installation
according to the car seat manual before use.

DEFECT: If a harness buckle becomes difficult to
open or stuck in the latched position, a caregiver could
be delayed from removing a child from a car seat in the
event of an emergency.

These car seats were manufactured between 2009 and
July 2013. Seats manufactured after July 2013 (and after
September 2013 for Smart Seat) use a different harness
buckle. The recall does not affect Graco infant car
seats and Travel Systems.

·Best practice recommendation #1
states, “All
infants and toddlers should ride in a
rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) until they are
2 years of age or until they reach the highest
weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of
their CSS.”

·Best practice recommendation #2
states, “All children 2 years or older, or those
younger than 2 years who have outgrown the
rear-facing weight or height limit for their
CSS, should use a forward-facing CSS with a
harness for as long as possible, up to the
highest weight or height allowed by the
manufacturer of their CSS.”

·Best practice recommendation #3
states, “All children whose weight or height is
above the forward-facing limit for their CSS
should use a belt-positioning-booster until the
vehicle lap-and-shoulder seat belt fits
properly, typically when they have reached 4
feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12
years of age.”

·Best practice recommendation #4
states, “When children are old enough and large
enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they
should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts
for optimal protection.”

·Best practice recommendation #5
states, “All children younger than 13 years of
age should be restrained in the rear seats of
vehicles for optimal protection.”